They’re Scared — Panicked NFL Organizes Salute to Service Campaign

The NFL’s “Salute to Service” program has been around for a long time — since 2011, in fact, which is at least like six marriages for a Kardashian. It’s a pretty low-key thing, the sort of desultory charity initiative for the armed forces virtually every major public organization has going on.

However, the “Salute to Service” program advertising is a bit different this year — and if you want to read into it, it could demonstrate just how panicked the NFL is after the anthem protests, and how ineffectual their response has been thus far.

First, the “Salute to Service.” According to the NFL’s website, the program is proof that “(h)onoring the military is part of the fabric of the NFL.” (Except during the national anthem.)

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“This support takes place both at home and abroad, with NFL players and coaches traveling overseas to salute the troops, as well as with team recognition of our servicemen and women through the NFL’s Salute to Service,” the self-congratulatory copy continues.

“Through its long-standing partnerships and support from our 32 teams, the NFL takes pride in supporting military personnel and remains committed to raising awareness for the sacrifices they make on our behalf. Year-round, the league works with its military non-profit partners including the Pat Tillman Foundation, USO, TAPS and Wounded Warrior Project, to fund programs and provide resources that positively impact veterans and active duty military members and their families.”

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However, in 2017, that’s just not going to cut it — particularly when every single weekend this autumn sees a) some sort of anthem-related shenanigans and b) ratings hemorrhages.

So, the NFL knew what it needed to do. It needed to clamp down on players disrespecting the very country that made them millionaires and the very freedom that… oh, wait, no. They did none of those things. They did something better:

Yes, a league that doesn’t give a crap about how veterans feel when the national anthem is playing on the field is now trying to rehab its image with a panicked hashtag donation campaign. I’ve seen pure oxygen less transparent than this.

I’m not sure that the last one has anything to do with the anthem protests but at least the first part of the formulation is wholly accurate.

Now, of course, the NFL could have just donated however much they wanted to these charities, but they instead decided to roll out a hashtag so that, if you want them to donate, you have to tacitly acknowledge in public on social media that the NFL is pro-military and pro-America.

Meanwhile, this is a league that treats the national anthem as if it’s a viable platform for political protest from millionaires that could literally use any other avenue to share their discontent with what they see as injustice. Offended veterans, one would assume, aren’t buying it, and neither should you.